The kings' tombs of the First Dynasty are at Abydos;
while the residence or main administrative/cultural centre of the country
was already at Memphis. In the Second Dynasty some kings' tombs were built
at Saqqara, the cemetery of the administrative
centre Memphis. However, some kings of that period were still buried at Abydos.
King Djoser and Sekhemkhet built
their tomb complexes again at Saqqara. King Khaba
sited his tomb complex at Zawiyet el-Aryan. From
the Fourth Dynasty on, there are attested 'pyramid towns',
the settlements for workmen and officials involved with the cult at the pyramid.
Some scholars believe that the pyramid city was at this time also the residence/capital
of the king/country. The administrative centre of the Twelfth Dynasty was
Itjawy, near Lisht; only two kings built their pyramid complexes there.

Stones for the pyramids

Many pyramids are built directly near a quarry. Stone of better quality was
quarried at Turah and brought by ship to the building place. At Aswan granite
was quarried, used for select surfaces, such as the internal chambers and
lowest external casing of the pyramid of Menkaura at Gizeh.